The NOC going down a slippery slope

A club of grumpy old men perhaps, Gino.

• old - well yes. But when I attended South London branch meetings in the 70s on my Commando, there was no shortage of grey hair on show either. As to younger members, I'd direct your criticism towards Norton Motors - I don't see current Norton offerings appealing to today's 20-something like the Commando did to me.
• rich - maybe one or two but for the majority, as 'boomers', I suspect we're merely comfortable; mortgage paid, kids left home etc.
• a week's wages - on the current minimum wage a 40 hour week brings in £416. A quick glance has the national rally at £60 and the international rally at £100, for the weekend including camping.
• shipping bikes - you and I have both loaded bikes into a van to take them somewhere and ride around in circles. Don't think we can criticise someone else for their indulgence.

Gino,

Today's youth doesn't really do the rally scene like the early '70's. As a member of Dean Valley MCC in Halifax we used to put on a mid-summer rally, Dalesman Rally, and the mid-winter rally, Rallyman's Rally. Other bike clubs did the same, avoiding date clashes, so we could all go rallying every weekend around the UK in all weather's. Fun on our mostly modest and heavily loaded Japanese or Eastern European bikes.

I'm still in a geriatric DVMCC, still putting on Dalesman and Rallyman's, but most of the old MC clubs are long gone and the rally scene is not pulling in the young ones. Even us older ones prefer a bed with a roof over it. 

I'll be dragging the tent out and going slowly to Tossa de Mar on the byeways of France and Spain. Hoping for dry weather. To me, the journey is as attractive as the event. 

If the journey is too much, I can see the attraction of shipping the bike to the nearest airport. Especially if holiday leave is running short. 

Be great if more than 5% of members attend. 

Peter

The club can't help it if younger members don't join the club. it is not only the NOC that is suffering, all marques and clubs are seeing a similar issue. Before 'youngsters' can go to a rally they need to have an interest in and wish to ride a motorcycle, then brand loyalty will follow and then the attendance at rallies. The club tries hard to gain more members, but sadly there is no magic wand. 

This fact 'youngsters' don't ride Nortons is nothing to do with Norton Motors, that is a company total unconnected with the Norton Motorcycle Company Ltd who I doubt will never make a motorcycle that will a, be attractive to a youngster, and b, be a price a youngster could afford, though TVS Motor has launched it's range of cheap bikes in France recently. 

Its up to Dads and Grandads to get those youngsters to join in with runs out and going to events . both my sons ride bikes and have been with me to the isle of man (4 times ) and get to ride my bikes ,both are also into Classic cars and can do the spanners .They will get my old bikes one day.

I'm trying to get my two interested.  They help me on events, but Government has made the training process into a trial to discourage new riders.  The electric 'bicycle' is the machine of choice for young hooligans - no licence, no tax, no insurance, no visible identity behind the facemasks, no 20mp speed limits, and free use of the pavements to evade traffic jams.  What's not to like?